Bustle



` bottom to hold the bustle in place.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 358,130, dated February 22, `1887.

Application filed December 4, 1886. Serial No. 220.640. (No model.) i

.T 0 all whom may concern:

Beit known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersV skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My inventionrelates to the manufacture of wire bustles, and has for its object to simplify and cheapen their construction and at the same time to greatly improve their operation in use.

With these ends in view I have devised the simple and novel construction of which the following description,'in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, the several parts of the device being indicated by numbers.

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 are perspective views illustrating different ways in which I have carried my invention into effect, and Fig. 5 is an edge view showing the manner in which my improved bustle collapses or folds np when the wearer sits down.

It is of course well understood by those familiar with these articles that the essential requirements are that they shall be light, and shall be so constructed as to collapse easily when the wearer sitsdown, but adapted to instantly spring back into place when the wearer rises, so that the drapery of the dress will be restored to the bozqant condition which is of course the primaryobject for which they are worn.

My present invention is an improvement upon the bustle illustrated and described in my pending application, Serial No. 217,406,

filed October 28, 1886, and, like the bustleI therein described, may be made, with the cxception of a new independent rib, from a single continnousstrip of wire; or it may be formed in several pieces.

1 denotes the side pieces; 2, the ribs 5 3, coils to give additional spring to the ribs; 4, a crosspiece at the top, which connects the two side pieces; and 5, strips of textile material, which extend across from side to side at the top and When made from a cont-inuous strip of wire, this portion of my improved bustle may be formed as follows: The cross-piece is the center of the strip of wire. This may be curved outward, as shown in Fig. l, or may project inward or upward, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. When formed as in the three figures last referred to, the cross-piece is connected to the body of the bustle by arms 6. The ends of the wire are then bent downward substantially at right angles to the cross-piece to form the side pieces. The ribs are then formed by curving the wire oitward and then inward diagonally over to the top of thc opposite side piece, the ends of the wire being caused to engage eyes 7 at the tops of said side pieces, so as to hold the ribs securely in place, but allow them to swing freely. As shown in the drawings, coils 3 are preferably formed where the lower ends of the ribs join the side pieces, so as to give greater spring to the ribs and cause them to instantly return to place when pressure is removed.

These coils may, however, be dispensed with,

if preferred. The bustle as thus formed is held in shape by the strips 5, preferably made of textile material, which connect the two side pieces at top and bottom.

YThe essential feature of -my present invention is an independent rib, 8, the opposite ends of which are secured to the lower ends of the bustle, and which curves upward and over, lying preferably under ribs 2. This rib is so attached at the opposite lower ends of the bustle as to swing freely, and is a very important feature, as it prevents the possibility of the clothing sagging down between the diagonal ribs at the top, and also from falling in between said ribs at the sides. As it is essential that this rib should swing freely, but at the same time that it should instantly return to its normal position when pressure is ICO being passed through or attached to eyes 7 or through eyes 11, as shown in Fig. 3.

In use the entire bustle will fold up flat against the wearer when in a sitting position, as shown in Fig. 5, but will instantly spring back into shape when the wearer rises, so that the drapery of the dress will resume its original position.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A bustle consisting of two side pieces, a cross-piece and strips connecting said side pieces, diagonal spring-ribs, one end of each rib being attached to a side piece at the bottom and to the opposite side piece at the top, said ribs crossing each other midway their length, an independent rib which curves upward under the diagonal ribs from one side piece at the bottom to the other side piece at the bottom` a strip, l0, connecting the independent rib with the cross-piece, and a loop, 9, extending from the independent rib around the diagonal ribs at their point of intersection, whereby when pressure is removed the diagonal ribs act to return the independent rib to its normal position.

2. In a bustle, the combination, with side pieces, l, cross-piece 4, connecting-strips 5, and diagonal ribs 2, having coils 3, of an independent rib, S, attached to each side piece at the bottoni and curved upward under the diagonal ribs, and a loop, Sl, and strip 10, whereby the independent rib is connected t0 the cross-piece and to thc diagonal ribs attheir point of intersection.

8. In a bustle, the combination, with the side pieces, cross-piece, and arms 6, connecting the Crosspieee with the side pieces, of diagonal ribs 2, connected to one side piece at the bottom and to the other at the top, au independent rib connected to both side pieces at the bottom and curved upward under the diagonal ribs, and a loop and strip connecting the independent rib with the erosspiece and the diagonal rihs at their point of intersection, whereby the independent rib is held at its normal position and caused to return thereto when pressed out of shape.

In testimony whereof Iafix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

V THOMAS I). TAYLOR. lVitnesses:

A. M. Woos'rnn, (j. E. RUGGLns. 

